Notes

Myers–Briggs Type Indicator(MBTI) is a popular objective personality assessment treatment. This evaluation was developed in the 1940s by Isabel Briggs-Myers and Katherine Briggs. Extraversion (E) vs introversion (I); sensing (S) versus intuition (N); thinking (T) versus feeling (F), and judgment (J) versus perception (J) are used to indicate a personality "type" (P). For instance, an ISTP person would be introverted, rely on their senses to understand their surroundings, prefer logic to emotion, and concentrate on using perception rather than judgment. According to Licht in Presenting Psychology, "Problems arise when assessments incorporate somewhat vague descriptions of personality traits." This makes sense because, the vague descriptions could be applied to a lot of people. An example given was "You are creative and work well with others and you sometimes procrastinate, but ultimately you get the job done," and this could be applied to lots of people in the world, for example, me. These vague statements would then produce results that are either inaccurate or not helpful. After searching online, a few sources list MBTI no less valid or reliable than other personality tests, but others state it is useless and does not help. According to Aqualus M Gordon from Psychology today, "the MBTI does indeed have strong test-retest reliability" which means that there was been valid research done to suggest that the MBTI is effective and produces accurate results. On the other hand, Libby MacCarthy from PSYCOM details that the MBTI "gives an oversimplified view of human personality." I agree with Libby because humans are different and have different personality traits. We are complicated and can have varying personalities and can't be defined by one thing such as extraversion vs introversion, there is a spectrum. The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory(MMPI) is the most widely used objective personality test. There are 338 statements in this self-report questionnaire, and there are three possible responses: "true," "false," or "cant say." The MMPI included 10 clinical scales because its initial goal was to detect disorders and abnormal behavior.  In order to determine whether test-takers are trying to appear more disturbed or healthy than they actually are, the assessment also includes validity measures, such as the Lie Scale and the Defensiveness Scale. The MMPI is employed in a number of situations, including custody battles, although many believe that its usage outside of therapeutic contexts is improper. I believe that the MMPI has the same problem as the MBTI, it doesn't account for the fact that humans aren't binary creatures. Another problem detailed by Licht is that " Many of these tests include some sort of mechanism for checking the validity of the test taker’s answers, but people may still lie, particularly when something personal is at stake, like a job or child custody decision." It is human nature to try to protect ourselves and if lying is necessary, most of the time we will.

In your opinion, how helpful/harmful are scientifically unproven methods for personality feedback like horoscopes or short but popular online personality quizzes
I believe that scientifically unproven methods for personality feedback like horoscopes or short but popular online personality quizzes aren't very harmful but they certainly aren't helpful. I remember taking many of these tests as a kid such as what Ben 10 character I would be or what I will grow up to be and it did influence me a lot at the time because I believed them to be real. Now as I've grown older, realising that these tests can't gauge us completely, these tests don't influence me anymore and are neither harmful or helpful. Though, sometimes seeing accurate tests is pretty surreal. According to Sandbeak, horoscopes are harmful because they interfere with an individuals ability to make decisions, and I feel this is true in the case where people actually rely on horoscopes and predictions to make important decisions, such as people who use 8-balls.

Lussier, K. (2018). Temperamental workers: Psychology, business, and the Humm-Wadsworth Temperament Scale in interwar America. History of Psychology, 21, 79–99.
Pittenger, D. J. (1993, November). Measuring the MBTI and coming up short. Journal of Career Planning & Placement, 54(1), 48–52.
Gordon, A. M. (n.d.). In Defense of the Myers-Briggs | Psychology Today. Www.psychologytoday.com. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/my-brothers-keeper/202002/in-defense-the-myers-briggs#:~:text=The%20truth%20is%20that%20theMacCarthy, L. (2020b, June 29). Why Your Myers-Briggs Personality Type Is Meaningless. Psycom.net - Mental Health Treatment Resource since 1996. https://www.psycom.net/myers-briggs-personality-type
Rauh, S. (n.d.). Are Horoscopes Healthy? WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/balance/features/are-horoscopes-healthy#:~:text=%22It%20can%20be%20downright%20damaging
Presenting Psychology: Deborah Licht